Sound Intro

Today we went over a bunch of stuff about sound:

Notes: Sound

Your only homework is to read section 14.2 in the textbook and then explain what you read to another person. We'll have some bellwork next week based on the reading, but otherwise I'm just trusting you to read it.

Extra Credit Quiz

Today you are taking a multiple choice quiz that covers everything up to (but not including) this unit. This quiz is a data-gathering tool for us teachers, so it isn't going to affect your grade negatively. Instead, I'll "grade" it like an AP test, and if you get at least a "3" (passing) I'll give you some extra credit. If you get a "4" or "5" I'll give you a little more. We are not talking about a lot of extra credit here.

Your real, unit test is the next time I see you. For the practice test and its key, see yesterday's blog post.

Wave Interference and Reflection

Today we talked about what happens when waves overlap or hit a barrier/change mediums.

Notes
Simulations:
Zona Land Education: Wave Interference I
Zona Land Education: Wave Interference II
Zona Land Education: Wave Interference III
PhET: Wave on a String

Homework: There is almost nothing to practice interference in the textbook, so your homework tonight is to play a game. Download the app Kerflux and get to at least level 30. Please note you do NOT have to pay anything for this game. If you do not have a device that can run Kerflux, that's okay too; I'm not actually checking this.

On Wednesday you will be taking a quiz about everything since August. This is a data gathering tool, so it will NOT hurt your grade. However, to encourage you to take it seriously, if you earn above a certain cut score I will give you extra credit.

Your unit test is on your next modular day. Below you will find a link to the practice test as well as a key.

SHM and Waves Test Practice

Solutions videos (note that the numbers of the problems have changed by the problems themselves have not):
#9
#10
#11
#12

EM Waves

Today was a half day, so we very briefly discussed a type of non-mechanical wave called an electromagnetic (EM) wave.

Electromagnetic Spectrum
United States Frequency Allocations (NASA)

Homework: p. 469 #43, 45, 46

Mechanical Waves

Today we introduced mechanical waves:

Here is a website with animations of the different kids of mechanical waves:

Acoustics and Vibrations Animations, Daniel A. Russell, Pennsylvania State University

Here is the stuff about earthquakes:
Types of Seismic Waves (L. Braile, Purdue)
Seismic Waves (YouTube)


Homework: Ch. 13 (p.469) # #41, 42, 44. Remember tomorrow is a half day.

Period of a Pendulum

Today we used your lab results to get the equation for the period of a simple pendulum. We also watched a fun pendulum video and mentioned physical pendulums.

Notes: Pendulums

In case you can't access the Powerpoint, here are the links for the videos we watched:


Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations: Pendulum Waves
Memo Akten: SHM #2 Excerpt
Somewhere in here we also talked about speed walking and pendulums, so here is a video of speed walkers.

Homework is Ch. 13 (p. 468) #34, 35, 39

Lab: Period of a Pendulum

Today we basically did the same lab as last week, except for a pendulum instead of a spring on a mass:



For any linear graphs you get, try to figure out what the slope represents. Also, don't displace the pendulum by more than 20 degrees.

If you were gone, there is a very nice pendulum simulation here: PhET Pendulum Lab. There is even a lovely photo gate timer that you can turn on that will measure one period for you. If you prefer a standard stopwatch, one will appear if you turn on "other tools."

No extra homework tonight; just get the lab totally finished.

SHM Practice Problems

Today you worked on practice problems while I checked your labs from earlier in the week. These are due next class:

Ch. 13 Conceptual (p.465) #1, 2 + Problems (p. 467) #19, 21, 24, 25, 28

Bring your lab notebook next class! We're doing ANOTHER LAB!

Circles and SHM

Today we used circles to model simple harmonic motion, which gave us some equations for the position, velocity, and acceleration of an object undergoing SHM. We also talked about angular frequency.

Notes ended up on the board (below) and we used these sites to look at the motion:

UNSW School of Physics PhysClips: SHM Background Material

Teresa Martin Physics Flash Animations

If we had time we also watched this (just because it's cool).

Homework is Chapter 13 (p. 467) #12, 18, 22

Springs and Simple Harmonic Motion

Today we used the results from your lab to get an equation for the period of a mass on a spring. We also took a little bit of notes beyond that:

Notes: Simple Harmonic Motion

Homework is a little half-sheet worksheet I made: 2/7 HW (ignore the wrong date on this PDF scan).

Lab: Period of a Mass on a Spring

Today you completed a lab to determine what and how quantities affect the period of oscillation for a mass on a spring.

Lab: Finding T for a Mass on a Spring

No extra homework tonight, but this lab is due Wednesday.

We ended up with some hints on the board, so there is a picture of it below.

If you missed the lab or didn't get enough data at home, there is an online simulation here:

PhET Mass-Spring Lab

To use it you need to make sure the "friction" is set to zero, time is set to "real time" and the planet is "earth." Use the spring on the far right and change its k value by moving the "softness spring 3" slider. You will have to find the k for each "softness" level by hanging a known weight on the spring and measuring how far it stretches (tip: if you set the friction to "lots" for this part, it will keep the mass from bouncing and let you measure the stretch more easily). Then k = mg/x. Finally, you'll need more masses that the labelled ones provided, so I found the masses of the unlabeled colored masses for you: green = 70g, gold = 160g, red = 300g.

Springs!

Today we used your labs to figure out Hooke's Law. We also talked about ways the model of springs can be used to explain concepts that don't necessarily look like springs.

Dolphin Tails
Chemical Bonds
Robert Hooke

Homework: Chapter 13 (p.466) #1, 4, 5

Also bring your lab notebook Monday/Tuesday.

Spring Intro Lab

Today we derived Hooke's Law with a little intro lab:

Spring Intro Lab

The lab is due tomorrow.